& Education
Pick up a book and let the Fair Bear show you fun and interesting things at the Fair.
FFA Farm Zoo
The FFA Farm Zoo is a no miss feature and kids love it. Get up close and cuddly with some friendly farm animals.
Rob Thompson's Pure Magic
This event will teach kids about Mallards. Information provided by Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
Buttons the Clown can be spotted strolling around all areas of the grounds and even driving in his little clown mobile. He is always ready for a friendly conversation or a photo op.
Balster Magic Productions Inc.
Carrie McQueen - Stilt Walking and Juggling
Look for Carrie walking around. You won't miss her.
Maggie has been specifically designed to promote the knowledge and understanding of hand milking a cow for everyone!
Photographs, posters and showcases filled with Fair memorabilia from the past and present. Be sure to look around the museum after you get your Activity Book stamped.
Your trip to the Sandwich Fair is not complete without having a great little train ride around the fairgrounds.
There's so much to learn at the Fair that's FREE every day
The livestock area offers kids the opportunity to see many farm animals in the Exhibit Barns and in the Farm Zoo.
The Demonstration Building features artists and crafts people at work. Children and young adults can observe crafts such as pottery making, basket weaving, wood carving, and wheat weaving.
Look for photography, artwork, collections, and miscellaneous crafts exhibits in the Arts and Crafts Building.
Picture-perfect grains, fruits, vegetables, and flowers are displayed in the Horticulture Building.
The Home Arts Building holds the baked goods, intricate needlework, decorated cakes, and preserved food.
There is also a large display of antique gas engines, working antique farm equipment, and modern farm equipment.
The History Museum has many display cases full of interesting items that were given away or purchased at earlier fairs. There are photographs and posters and even movies of past fairs.
The Farm Bureau, area hospitals, and other exhibitors have educational displays at the fair. There are also numerous commercial exhibits.
!Educators!
The Sandwich Fair Association, Inc. would like to invite you and your students to an educational experience of a lifetime. The Sandwich Fair is always Wednesday through Sunday Labor Day week. School groups (students and chaperones) are admitted free from 8:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of the fair.
This year's Activity Book
KIDS… get ready for a FUN adventure with the Fair Bear.
Fair Bear, our ambassador of fun is ready to celebrate the 125th Sandwich Fair with you! This fuzzy white teddy bear has put on his party hat and is ready to go out and show you around the fair.
Pick up one of the FREE Fun Fair Facts activity books and get going.
Look for Fair Bear posters at the FFA Farm Zoo, Fair Museum, Horticulture Building, Craft Demonstration Building, Collections Building, and the Gazebo Information/Souvenir Center to pick up a book. Visits to each of the six designated places around the grounds are a fun way for children and others to see highlights of the fair. There will be fun fair facts and questions about the Fair, as well as silly activities and a map of the fairgrounds. After collecting a stamp at each of the stations, a small prize is given at the Gazebo for completing the adventure.
Take home a great memory of your visit to the 125th Sandwich Fair. Pick up our adorable Fair Bear complete with party hat and colorful embroidered cake with candles. Available at the Gazebo.
For more information about education at the Fair, email: education@sandwichfair.com or contact Nancy Rex at (815) 786-2159
The Great American Duck Race. NEW this year. Kids will love it!
Family Fun
Kids and adults will love the Great American Duck race so much, they will flock to this fun game to try their luck.
It's Educational
Interesting facts about Mallards are revealed throughout the show so there’s never a “down” moment. Ducks Unlimited, Inc. national staff prepared the educational portion of the show.
HANDS ON EXCITEMENT! - Sixteen children (and adults) are chosen during each show to release the ducks in the racetrack. Prizes are given to the winners of each race. A period of “open duck racing” after the show is available so everyone can get in on the fun. Check out the details racingducks.com (official website).
Come on down and enjoy the fun!
Learn To Milk A Cow
This educational cow is mooovalous fun. Learn how to milk a cow like it's done on the farm.
Moms and Dads, this is a great bucket list activity for the family. Maggie is very amoooosing, and milking Maggie is safe and clean. It isn't real milk, but don't tell Maggie.
Everyone Loves Clowning Around
Especially Buttons the Clown! He can be spotted strolling around all areas of the grounds and even driving in his little clown mobile. He is always ready for a friendly conversation or a photo op, as he loves to make people happy at the Sandwich Fair. If you’re lucky, he might even make you a colorful balloon animal!
Augie Otto's Train
This is a must do choo choo.
A great fair stop for everyone. Hop on board. It's super relaxing and a WAY COOL ride. The kids will love it and they'll be bringing you back to the fair to ride it again (and we're not just blowin' smoke).
Augie Otto's first run was in 1973. It is a model of Class 5-4 Hudson Type 4-6-4, Burlington Series 3000 Engine. It is 1/4 scale. Now THAT's some model train! Moms and Dads will love it as much as the kids. This is a fair treat you won't want to miss.
- Otto's train in action.
- Actual 3000 engine model of the train.
- Link to some detailed information about the 4-6-4 Hudson-type trains.
Be sure to get some good photos for the scrapbook.
